- (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest
group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today reported
that a federal court ordered the Bush Justice Department to release documents
concerning contacts by Attorney General Ashcroft with representatives of
the Holy Land Foundation, a front group shut down by the Bush Administration
in the wake of Judicial Watch and other complaints about its financial
backing of terrorism.
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- Despite the Holy Land Foundation's being under investigation
since 1996, the Attorney General had met with George Salem, a lawyer for
the group, on October 16, 2001. Salem is also reportedly a major Republican
donor and fundraiser. Judicial Watch had been seeking documents since December,
2001 from the Justice and Treasury Departments and was forced to file a
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit on February 22, 2002.
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- At a hearing this past Friday, The Honorable Emmet G.
Sullivan ordered lawyers for the Justice and Treasury Department to turn
over responsive documents to Judicial Watch within 30 days.
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- "The Bush Administration must be made understand
that it is not 'above the law,' particularly with respect to laws concerning
disclosure of government documents."
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- "Perhaps now we can get an answer to the question
of whether campaign contributions can get you a meeting with the Attorney
General of the United States," stated Judicial Watch Chairman and
General Counsel Larry Klayman.
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